Rotary engine.



Patented Dec. 23, |902.

J. w. PICKEL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 9- 1901.\

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

we Noam: PEYERS co, PHOTO-Lima, wAsHlNaTon, D. c.

Patented Dec. 23, |902.

N0. 7|6,470. J. W. PIGKEL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

"Application filed Sept. 9, 1901.\ Y

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 7l6,470. Patented Decq. 23, |902.

J. w. PICKEL. BUTARY ENGlNE.

(Application filed Sept. 9. 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' Arent OFFICE.

JOHN W. PICKEL, OF CRYSTAL CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- EIGHTHS TOLOUIS PHILLIPPI AND ROBERT SNYDER, OF CRYSTAL CITY, MISSOURI, AND JESSEF. DONNELL, OF FESTUS, MISSOURI.

ROTARY ENGINE.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,470, datedDecember 23, 1902.

Application filed September 9, 1901. Serial No. 74.817. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN W.P1cKEL,a citizen of the United States,residing at Crystal City, Missouri, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, inwhich- Figure 1 is an elevational View of my improved rotary engine, thenear cylinder-head being removed to more clearly show the interiormechanism. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is avertical cross-sectional view. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view showing part of the piston and its connected mechanism inelevation. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pistonhead packing. Fig. 6 isa detail view of the packing around the piston-head, and Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view through a modified form of engine.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in rotary enginesof that type wherein the piston-heads are moved radially across thespace encircling the piston. Appropriate inlet and exhaust ports arearranged to admit steam to one or the other side of the pistons for thepurpose of driving the engine in one or the other direction. A cut-offvalve is also provided for controlling the admission of steam throughthe inlet-port.

The novel features of mypresent invention reside in the construction andarrangement of the means for moving the piston-heads radially, in anovel arrangement of the packing carried by the piston-heads, and alsoin the packing around the piston-heads, in the manner in which thepiston coperates with the cylinder, and in the novel arrangement of thepacking employed for making joints at this point steam-tight, in thenovel construction and method of operation of the cut-off valve, in thenovel construction of the reversing-valve, and finally in thearrangement consisting in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterwardpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the base, provided With a chamber 2, intowhich steam for driving the engine is admitted.

3 indicates the cylinder, having afoot portion which is secured to thebase 1. The

Vlower-.face of this cylinder is provided with a recess forming aportion of the chamber 2 and in which is arranged a cut-off valve 4 forcontrolling the admission of the motive fluid through port 5. Thiscut-od valve is provided with a rod 6, connected to a cross-head 7,mounted in suitable guideways. To the crosshead is pivotally attachedalink 8,whose outer end is adjustably mounted upon a rocking 1ever 9.'lhisrockng lever is mounted upon an appropriate rock-shaft, whichreceives motion from a rock-arm 10, to the outer end of which isconnected a pitman 11. This pit` man is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 asvibrated by an eccentric 12, mounted on the main shaft 13 of the engine.

In the engine shown in Figs. 1 to 4 an abutment lefis arranged in thebottom of the cylinder, said abutment being provided with ports 15 and16, which are controlled by arotating valve 17. This valve is designedto establish communication between the inlet-port 5 and one or the otherof the ports 15 or 16, and when one of the ports 15 or 16 receives thelive motive fluid the other of said-ports serves as an exhaustthe valve17 connecting the exhaust-port with a passage-way 18, formed in thecylinder and preferably entirely encircling the same. The exhaust fromthe engine is carried out through an exhaustpipe 19.

Ports 20 and 2l connect the chamber in the cylinder with theexhaust-passage 18 at points on each side of the abutment and remotetherefrom, said passages being controlled by rotary valves-22 and 23.

As shown in Fig. 1, the valves 17, 22, and 23 are connected, so as to besimultaneously operated by the manipulation of a single handle 24:. Inthe construction shown in the drawings this handle 2-1 is mounted uponthe spindle of valve .3, said spindle also carrying abell-crank lever25,0ne member of which is connected by a link 26 to the rock-arm on thespindle of valve 22, while theA other member of said bell-crank lever isconnected by a link 27 to a rock-arm on the spindle of valve 17. Whenthe handle is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the valves will be in theposition shown in Fig. 3, wherein it will be seen that theadmission-port 5 is placed in communication with the space in thecylinder through port 15, tending to drive the piston in the directionof the full-line arrow, that port 21 is closed by the valve 23, thatport 20 is open and acts as an auxiliary exhaust-port, and that port 16is connected with the exhaust-passage 18.

To reverse the direction of rotation of the piston, it is only necessaryto throw the lever 24 to the left, which will result in establishingcommunication between the inlet-port 5 and port 16. Port 15 will now beconnected with the exhaust-passage 18, port 2O will be closed, and port2l opened.

By adjusting the link 8 nearer or farther from the axis of movement ofthe slotted rockarm 9 a smaller or greater vibration will result in themovement of the cut-off valve 4. Thus the amount of steam admitted tothe engine can be controlled by the cut-off valve, and the valves 17,22, and 23 can remain in their full open position. A governing mechanismmay be employed for automatically adjusting the stroke of the valve 4 bymoving the link 8 in its slot, depending upon the speed of the engine,as is well understood.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the cylinder 3 is of less width than the faceof the piston. This piston (indicated at 28) is flxedly mounted upon theshaft 13. Those portions of the piston at its side edges which protrudebeyond the cylinder 3 are provided with expansible packing-rings 29,which bear upon concentric shoulders of corresponding radii formed inthe cylinder-heads 30 and 3l. The cylinder-head 30, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2, is practically closed with the exception of theopening in its center for the passage of the main shaft, saidcylinder-head at this pointbeing provided with the usual packinggland.The cylinder-head 31 is extended outwardly beyond the circular track orbearingface, which receives the packing-rings at this side of thepiston, said cylinder-head 31 being provided with a iauge at its outerend, to which is secured a closing-head 32, said head being providedwith a central hub portion, forming a bearing for the main shaft andhaving the usual packing-gland. Fixed to the hub of this head 32 arecams 33, whose working faces are formed with a radial enlargement 34 anda face 35, respectively, at apoint adjacent to but to one side of theabutment 14.

36 indicates a spider-ring rotatably mounted on the hub of the head 32or on one of the fixed heads of the cams, whose arms aord bearings forthe ends of rock-shafts 37. These rock-shafts also find bearings in therimflanges of the piston. (See Fig. 4.)

38 indicates arms secured to the rock-shafts 37, the opposite ends ofsaid arms carrying rollers 39, which engage, respectively, with theworking faces of the cams 33. These rollers are designed in the rotationof the pistou to ride over the working faces of the cams, and when oneof the rollers rides over the face 35 the other roller on the oppositeside of the rock-shaft 37 rides up the radial enlargement 34, causingthe shaft 37 to rock in one direction. When the last roller referred torides down the radial enlargement, the first-mentioned roller isapproaching the concentric face of its cam, so that the shaft 37 isrocked in the opposite direction. This rocking of the two shafts 37occurs as therespective piston-heads connected to and controlled by saidshafts approach and leave the abutment 14, so that the piston-heads arecaused to recede into the piston opposite the abutment and to beprojected outwardly after they pass the abutment.

To effect the above, each shaft 37 has an arm 40 fixed thereon betweenthe flanges of the piston, said arms carrying links 4l, which -arepivoted upon suitable rods carried by the piston-heads. To center thearms 40, bosses 42 are provided on each side thereof, and in order toconveniently X said arms to the shafts 37 said shafts are enlarged atone end, two attened faces being formed for receiving the arms 40,whereby said arms can be slipped in position and rotated with the shaftswithout requiring the use of pins, the opposite ends of the shafts beingcircular, the diameter thereof being no larger than the distance betweenthe two flat faces referred to.

In introducing a shaft in position its small Yend first passes throughthe proper boss, after which the small end passes through the opening inthe end of arm 40,the non-circular opening in said arm registering withthe flattened portion of the shaft, and then the small circular end ofthe shaft is seated in its bearing in the opposite boss.

The piston-heads referred to are mounted between guides43, so that saidpiston-heads may move radially, their inner faces being recessed to formpockets for the reception ot' the links 4l. The outer faces and the endfaces of the piston are formed with seats or grooves for the receptionof a packing-block. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 5.) This block is formedin sections, which sections when assembled form a U-shaped packing, thelegs thereof being received in the grooves in the ends of the piston,appropriate springs 44 cooperating therewith, which tend to move andseparate sections of the block and form a tight joint with the innerside faces of the cylinder-heads.

A leaf or any other suitable spring 45 is ar-v ranged in the bottom ofthe groove in the outer face of the piston-head, the ends there- IOO IIO

of engaging the sections of the packing-block, tending to force saidsections outwardly and thus hold the packing of the piston-head in itsouter position against the inner periphery of the cylinder. However, asthe piston-heads are retracted means must be provided for holding thesections of this packing in proper position to prevent displacement, butpermitting a slight independent movement thereof with respect to thepiston-head in which it is mounted. To accomplish this, I arrange a key46 on the side wall of the groove. in the outer face of the piston-headand form alining grooves in one of the side faces of the sections of thepacking. This groove is indicated at 47 in Fig. 5.

48 indicates one of the sections of the packing-block referred to, and49 the other of said sections. Contiguous ends of these sections areconstructed in such manner that they may be keyed together to form asteam-tightjoint, notwithstanding the fact that the sections may beseparated slightly by the springs 44. This keyed joint is produced byforming matching projections and recesses upon and in the contiguousends of the sections, so that in introducing the sections into positionin the piston-head they may be slipped over opposite ends of thepiston-head on account of the springs 44 and the key 46. This keyedjoint is preferably produced by forming an L-shaped projection 49a onone of the sections-as, for instance, section 49-and correspondinglyrecessing the end of the opposite section 4S. The horizontal leg of theL projection is located above the lower edge of the horizontal membersof the section for the purpose of preventing, if possible, steam fromgetting into the space containing the leafspring 45, from which space itwould have an easy access to the interior of the piston.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that in their outermost positionthe sections of the packing under consideration do not protrude very farbeyond the face of the piston, it being preferable in this constructionto house as much of the joint in the piston as can be convenientlycovered. These packing-sections 48 and 49 pack the piston-head when itis in its outermost position and prevent the steam from blowing throughor escaping past said piston-head to the space in advance thereof, whichadvance space is connected to the exhaust.

To pack the sides of the piston-heads to prevent the steam from escapinginto the interior of the piston, I arrange a sectional packing 50 aroundthe opening into the periphery of the piston through which thepiston-heads operate. This sectional packing is seated in grooves, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the several sections thereof being pressedinwardly againstthepiston-headsbyspringsl. From an examination of Fig. 6it will be observed that the sections of this packing 50 arerectangular, the contiguous ends thereof being reduced, so as to form avertical lapped joint, while at least one of said reduced portions isformed with steps 52, matching with correspending inverted steps on theopposite contiguous ends of the next adjacent packingsection.

As the piston-head should make a close joint with the abutment 14, Ialso prefer to provide a packing-block in the inner face of saidabutment, said packing-block being indicated at 53 in Fig. Thispacking-block is designed to t snugly in its seat and is recessed on itsunder side to receive a rib 54, said packing-block being pressedinwardly by springs 55. This packing-block 53 is of such width that itspans the opening in the piston through which the piston-head isprojecting.

In order to counterbalance the centrifugal force acting upon thepiston-heads, I arrange springs 56 upon the hub of the piston, the outerends of said springs engaging the ends of the arms 40, tending at al1times to pull said arms inwardly. By this arrangement the work of thecams in retracting the pistonheads is considerably reduced, especiallywhen the engine is running at a high rate of speed and considerablecentrifugal force is being exerted upon the piston-heads. While I haveshown springs 56 as leaf-springs, it is obvious that coil-springs couldas well be used.

' The guides 43, between which the pistonheads are mounted, also formwhat might be termed the spokes7 of the piston. The valves 17, 22, and23, or at least the stems thereof, preferably project out on one side ofthe enginesay beyond the cylinder-head 30-each of said valve-stems beingappropriately packed.

As all of the moving parts of the engine' are inclosed in atight-'fitting case, oil (indicated at 57, Fig. 2) may be introducedinto the interior of said casing, so that the parts will be welllubricated. In fact, by providing a vent-pipe leading from the upperportion of this oil-chamber said chamber could be entirely filled withoil, the vent-pipe taking care of the displacement of the oil caused bythe reciprocation of the piston-head.

In the above construction the piston and cylinder are concentric witheach other, an abutment being employed in the cylinder. The rollers onthe ends of the arlns 38 also cooperate with what might be termedconcentrically-placed cams, said rollers traveling over the outerperipheries of said cams. It is obvious that these rollers couldcoperate with cam-faces provided by the inner peripheries of cam-ringsand accomplish the same purpose.

As shown in Fig. 7, itis obvious that the working` faces of the cams 33may be so shaped without changing the principle of their action thatthey will operate the piston-heads with an eccentrically-mounted piston.In this ICO construction the periphery of the piston engages thecylinder, so that apronounced abutment is dispensed with.

In view of the long throw of the pistonhead, resulting from a gradualapproach between the periphery of the piston and the inner wall of thecylinder, I have shown circular cams in Fig. 7, said cams being placedeccentrically on the shaft, they bearing such relation to each otherthat the roller-arms will coperate with their working faces in suchmanner as to actuate the rock-shafts connected to the piston-headsthroughout the entire rotation of the piston.

In view of the description given with respect to the construction shownin Figs. 1 to 4 it is deemed unnecessary to repeat here the operation ofthe construction shown in Fig 7. However, I have taken advantage of theopportunity offered in the illustration of what might be termed aneccentrically-placed7 piston to illustrate a modified form of rollerarm,the same being here shown as mounted upon shaft 37a, the rollersbeingjournaled in spring members 38a, said spring members being somounted upon the shaft that they tend at all times to press the rollersin contact with the working faces of the cams. Arms 38 extend laterallyfrom the rock-shaft and lie over the spring members 38, and setscrews38c are seated in said arms near their outer ends and bear upon therespective spring members. By properly adjusting the set-screws of thearms mounted upon one of the shafts-t'. e., by turning one screwinwardly and the other outwardlythe arms and the rock-shaft carryingthem can be rocked slightly with relation to the spring members 38a, theflexibility of said spring members permitting such rocking. Thus thespring members and their rollers constitute, in eect, a relatively fixedframe at all times held in position upon the cams or rocking members,while the rockshaft is flexibly mounted upon said spring members orframearms and is provided with adjusting members, whereby saidrock-shaft can be rocked upon said fixed frame. Consequently theposition of the rock-arm with respect to the member rocking the same canbe so adjusted that the throw of the piston-head can be regulated forvarious purposes-aa for example, for preventing pounding of thepiston-head against the inner circumference of the cylinder.

It will be observed that the rotary engine in both forms of my inventionis provided with two sliding piston-heads, with means for operating saidpiston-heads. AThese pistonheads are arranged in opposite sides of thepiston and are retracted to escape the point of contact or engagement soas to traverse the space between the piston and the cylinder, andthereby form an e`ectual abutment upon which the pressure may operate.

Valve 17, before described, performs a dual i function, admittingpressure to one or the other side of the point of engagement between thepiston and cylinder and opening the exhaust to the opposite side. Thisvalve is preferably operated manually and is independent of the cut-offvalve. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, valve 17, or rather the body portionthereof, is made in two parts, the division-line extending in thedirection of the central opening through the valve, whereby the steamwhich passes through said central opening forces the two halves` of thebody portion outwardly, `so that they will form a tight joint.

The function of the auxiliary exhaustports 2O and 21 is to diminish thefriction between the piston and piston-heads as the latter are retractedby permitting the escape of a portion of the motive iiuid before thepiston-heads are actuated. In other words, in the construction shown inFigs. l to 4, the piston-heads remain in an operative position outwardlyagainst the cylinder until after they pass the auxiliary exhaust-ports-20 or 2l, (depending upon the direction in which the engine isrotating,) and one or the other of these exhaust-ports will relieve thepistonhead of pressure thereb'ehind, so that the operating mechanism forthe piston-head will not have to overcome the friction which wouldotherwise result from the pressure against the piston-head were theports l5 and 16 relied upon as the only passages for the escape of theexhaust.

The cutoff valve is operated by an eccentric on the main shaft, whicheccentric is equivalent to a one-throw crank, and consequently theinlet-port 5 is open to an extent permitted by the position of the pointof connection between the link 8 and the arm 9 with respect to the axisof movement of said The opening in the cut-off valve passes theinlet-port when the engine is in normal operation, so that saidinlet-port 5 is fully opened to the pressure in chamber 2. Thus theinlet-port is opened twice during every revolution of the main shaft,and consequentlyeach piston-head receives it-s impulse of steam.Depending upon the point of connection between the link 8 and the arm 9the amount of motive iiuid admitted behind each piston-head may beregulated and controlled.

As the cams give a definite and positive action to the piston-heads, itis easy to so adjust their throw that said heads will not come intodirect contact with the internal periphery of the cylinder, but closeenough so that the space will be sealed by the packing carried by thepiston-heads. The shape of the cams is such as to admit of a gradualapproach of the piston-heads to the cylinder, so that hammering andfriction between the piston-heads and cylinder is prevented.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination IOO TIO

of the several parts of my invention may be made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without in the least departing from thenature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having a passagetherearound provided with an exhaust-opening, of a piston engaging saidcylinder at one point, a cylinder-port on each side of said point ofengagement, and a rocking valve in the line of said passage andcontrolling the said cylinderports and the ports of said passage whichopen upon said valve; substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having a passagetherearound provided with an exhaust-opening, of a piston engaging saidcylinder at one point, a cylinder-port on each side ot' said point ofengagement, auxiliary exhaust-ports connecting the space in thecylinderwith said passage, valves for controlling saidauxiliaryexhaustports, an inlet-port, and a valve in the line of saidpassage and having provision for connecting said inlet-port with eitherof said cylinder-ports, connecting the other ot' said cylinder-portswith one of the ports of said passage adjacent said valve, and closingthe passage between the inlet-port and the other port of said passageadjacent said valve; substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder formed with apassage therearoun d provided with an exhaust-opening, of auxiliaryexhaust-ports 20 and 2l, connecting the space in the cylinder with saidexhaust-passage, valves for controlling said ports, one of said portsbeing open and the other closed when the piston is rotating in onedirection,

and vice versa, a rotary piston in the cylinder, engaging the cylinderat one point, cylinder-ports l5 and 16 leadingto opposite sides of saidpoint of engagement between the piston and cylinder, an inlet-port, arocking valve 17, coperating with said inlet-port, said cylinder-portsand said exhaust-passage in the manner described, means for operatingall of said valves simultaneously, and a cutoif valve for theinlet-port; substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a pistoncarrying two pistonheads and engaging the cylinder at one point, meansfor operating said piston-heads, cylinder-ports leading to each side ofsaid point of engagement, an inlet-port, exhaust-ports, a valve forcontrolling said ports, a cut-off valve which is effective for admittingpressure behind each piston-head, and means for operating said cut-odvalve, said means including a rocking lever actuated by the engine and alink connection between said rocking lever and said cut-ott valve, saidlink being adj ustably mounted upon said rocking lever; substantially asdescribed.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston, of a slidingpiston-head, and means for operating said piston-head, said meansincluding two working cam-faces, and a lever having portions uponopposite sides of its fulcrum which engage said respective camfaces;substantially as described.

G. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston, ot' a sliding headmounted in suitable ways therein, cams, a lever, having its ends inoperative relation to the working faces of said cams, a rock-shaft uponwhich said lever is mounted, and connection between said rock-shaft andsaid piston-head; substantially as described.

7. In a rotaryengine, the combination with a rotary piston, of apiston-head mounted in guideways and radially movable therein, cams, oneot said cams having a working face with a radial enlargement, and theother of said cams having a Working face circumferentially displacedwith respect to the radial enlargement on the companion cam, a leverfixed upon a rock-shaft and carrying rollers on its ends for coperatingwith the working faces ot' said cams, an arm mounted upon saidrock-shaft, and a link connection between said arm and said piston-head;substantially as described.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston, of a slidingpiston-head arranged therein, and means for operating said pistonhead,said means including cams, a lever, and yielding devices on the ends ofsaid lever carrying rollers for coperating with the working faces of thecams; substantially as described.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston, of a piston-headslidingly mounted therein, and means for operating said pistonhead, saidmeans comprising a cam, a rockshaft of various diameters, an arm mountedupon a non-circular portion ot said rock-shaft, and a link connectionbetween the end of said arm `and said piston-head; substantially as'.lescribed.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, a piston andits piston-head, of a packing for said piston-head, said packingcomprising sections 4:8 and 49, and an L- shaped projection on one ofthe contiguous ends of said sections, which is received in acorresponding recess in the other of said sections, and springs forforcing said sections laterally and outwardly; substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, a piston and itspiston-head slidingly mounted therein, of a packing arranged in arectangle in grooves around the opening through which the piston-headoperates, the contiguous ends of said sections overlapping each otherand formed with matching shouldered projections and recesses, andsprings for forcing said sections IOO IIO

inwardly against the piston-head; substantially as described.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder, the pistonand its pistonhead, of means coperating with said pistonhead, andexerting a force at all times to pull said piston-head inwardly, thesaid means exerting a force substantially only sufficient tolcounterbalance the centrifugal force; substantially as described.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination With a cylinder and piston, of aplurality of sliding piston-heads mounted therein, means for operatingsaid piston-heads, and springs coperating with said piston-heads, theforce of said springs being substantially only sufflcient tocounterbalance the centrifugal force acting upon the said piston-heads;substantially as described.

14. In a rotary engine, the combination with, a cylinder, a'piston and asliding piston-head, of a frame, means for rocking said frame, a rockmember pivotally mounted upon said `frame, means for adjusting said rockmember pivotally with relation to said frame, and connection betweensaid rock member and said piston-head; substantially as described.

15. In a rotary engine, the combination With a cylinder, a piston and asliding piston-head, of a rock member, connection between said memberand said piston-head, a spring-arm extending from said rock member, apart upon which said arm bears at its free end and adapted to rock saidarm, and means for pivotallyadjusting said rock member with relation tosaid arm; substantially as described.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, a-piston and asliding piston-head, of a rock-shaft connected to said piston-head, anarm upon said shaft, aspringarm also carried by said shaft and bearingat its free end upon a member for rocking the same, and an adjustingmember engaging said arms; substantially as described.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder,a piston and asliding piston-head, of a rock-shaft having connection with saidpiston-head, frame-arms having flexible connection With said rock-shaftand extending oppositely therefrom,rocking members upon which saidframe-arms bear, rockarms oppositely extending from said shaft, andadjusting members between the respective sets of said arms,whereby saidrock-shaft and its rock-arms can be pivotally adj usted

